IN an apparent reaction to the angry rhetorics heating up the atmosphere in Rivers State, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, called for peaceful and orderly conduct in the federal and state legislative rerun elections, scheduled for today.
According to a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari urged all political parties, their candidates, other stakeholders and the people of the state to ensure that the polls were conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.
In the statement, the president reminded politicians and their supporters in the state to have the interest of the people of the state in mind as they go to the polls.
“The rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair to the extent that people will be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts. Innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power,” the president warned.
While calling on security and law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and non-partisanship in the discharge of their constitutional duties, even in the face of extreme provocations, President Buhari directed them to deal with troublemakers and those bent on violating the sanctity of the electoral process.
He also enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do everything within its powers to give transparency and fairness to the electoral exercise in Rivers State.
The president restated the commitment of his administration to deepening democracy in the country by enthroning a legacy of respect for the wishes of the people through free, fair and credible elections.
In the same vein, the United Kingdom, United States, French and the European Union (EU) Heads of Mission in Nigeria have expressed concern over the rising tension in Rivers State ahead of today’s legislative rerun elections in the state.
In a joint statement, they called on the leadership of all political parties and their supporters in state to allow the elections to go ahead peacefully.
The statement was signed by Paul Arkwright (British High Commissioner to Nigeria), Stuart Symington (United States Ambassador to Nigeria), Denys Guaer (French Ambassador to Nigeria) and Michel Arrion (EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria.)
“We encourage INEC and the security forces to perform their duties responsibly and impartially,” they said.
They went further to urge all parties to respect the electoral process and raise any grievances peacefully and through official channels.
“We stress that the leaders of all parties are accountable for the actions of their members and we encourage them to urge their supporters not to use or incite violence,” they said.